While still promising to hold a formal graduation ceremony with caps and gowns when it can be done safely, someone at Laughlin High School here in southern Nevada refused to let the graduates go without some sort of recognition ceremony NOW. They were concerned that the formal graduation might not be held before some of the graduates have already left for college in the fall and won't be able to attend. The school principal and staff made a large sign for each graduate and attached it to the fence surrounding the football field. Lights were turned on to illuminate the signs and everyone was invited to take part in a car "parade" honoring the graduates. The staging area limited cars to every other parking spot to maintain distancing. During the parade there was a lot of horn honking and picture taking from the cars. Not practical for any school with thousands of graduates but just fine for smaller ones like ours. It was really a neat idea and a great experience for everyone attending.
I like to hear these stories that reflect the resiliency of the human spirit. I really do. Unfortunately they seem to be running about 50/50 with stories of depressing stupidity...but as a wise person once sang... "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have....The Facts of Life"
Our local High School will not have a formal graduation either. They have put signs up in each Senior's home yard saying a Graduating Senior lives here. In two weeks they will have a car parade though our small towns Main Street escorted by the Police and Fire Departments.People can only attend from a vehicle. I am glad they are doing this as in our area school is cancelled until next Fall, all high school sports are cancelled and the their Prom is also of course cancelled. Kid's are disappointed but haven't heard a lot of complaints or self pity they seem to understand and accept why this had to be this way.
Our youngest daughter and her closest friend have been completing their California-based senior years online here in Nevada through all of this. Their high school, Alta Loma High School in southern California, is going to handle graduation differently. Each graduate has an appointment to bring up to four family members to be the "audience" while the graduate walks across the outdoor amphitheater stage in cap & gown to receive their diploma. Once a graduate is done, that family will leave and things will get sprayed or wiped down with disinfectants. Then, the process will be repeated for the next family. It will all be filmed by a small professional crew. Our daughter's friend has to be there next Friday so the girls will say goodbye Thursday and I'll take the friend home for good then. I won't even get out of the car. Those slated to give speeches (valedictorian, school superintendent, principal, etc.) are all recording their speeches in isolation. The entire collection of films will then be spliced together to make a full graduation movie. Besides making the movie available for purchase, it will be broadcast on YouTube May 26. Yet another good example of "Where there's a will, there's a way."
